March 07, 2022

Lawmakers urge swift FDA consideration of over-the-counter birth control

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) led more than 50 of their colleagues in sending a letter today to Dr. Robert Califf, the newly confirmed commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, urging the agency to “follow the science” as it considers making birth control pills available to Americans over the counter, without the need for a prescription.

“This is a critical issue for reproductive health, rights, and justice,” the lawmakers wrote. “We ask for your ongoing commitment to advance public health and follow the science and data in all decisions, including the timely review of the oral contraception applications.

The lawmakers noted that oral contraception is one of the most studied medications on the market, with widespread evidence supporting the safety and benefits of making it available to patients over the counter.

“Despite decades of proven safety and effectiveness, people still face immense barriers to getting birth control due to systemic inequities in our healthcare system,” the lawmakers wrote. “These barriers are disproportionately borne by people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, low-income individuals, young people, and people in rural communities – individuals who have faced and continue to face the greatest inequities.

The letter comes as Pro-Choice Caucus leaders continue their push to make oral contraception, whether it is obtained through a prescription or over the counter, available to all those who need without any cost sharing.

As part of that effort, pro-choice leaders are also working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen existing rules that require insurers to cover contraception to ensure that cost is never a barrier for people to obtain the contraceptive product of their choice.

A copy of the letter is available here.

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest-ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.